Since 2015, Yemen has witnessed many political upheavals and sharp transformations that have affected life in Yemeni society in general and cultural life and the cultural scene in particular. Yemen is experiencing the largest humanitarian crisis in the world, according to[1] the United Nations. The war has expanded on several levels and affected many economic, social, educational, and cultural sectors, and the scope of violations suffered by the cultural sector has expanded from the absence, marginalization, demolition, and targeting of archaeological and historical sites by the various parties to the conflict. As the war in Yemen entered its eighth year, the cultural and artistic landscape has undergone devastating changes, with many cultural centers and spaces closed or destroyed by armed conflict/airstrikes. The changes not only affected the cultural and artistic scene but also affected artists and cultural workers and these violations created a gap in the Yemeni cultural/artistic scene.
Many artists have been forced to leave the country, while the rest of the artists face enormous challenges. With the escalation of violence, conflict, human rights violations, restrictions on personal freedoms, cultural freedoms, censorship, and the banning of many artists and content makers from expressing themselves and holding exhibitions, events, and cultural events, and restrictions in them, it has become difficult for artists and cultural institutions in Yemen to highlight and celebrate Yemeni art. It also reduces cultural life and the scarcity of art exhibitions, music events, and film screenings, in addition to the many challenges faced by artists in Yemen from lack of funding and threats to financial stability, tense social and political conditions, sensitive social and political contexts, limited access to training and development workshops and mentorship programs, and restrictions on their speeches and artistic practices.
Despite the fragile context and unstable political situation, artists in Yemen find ways to express themselves and create channels of communication, Yemeni artists use their art as a form of resistance, and cultural initiatives and projects play a significant role in the continuity of the wheel of cultural life despite the conflict. The war in Yemen may have wreaked havoc, but it has inspired many artists to use their art to spread messages of peace, explore themselves, and redefine identity and belonging from their own perspective. Yemeni artists have also regarded their art as a healing tool, and they see art as their own breathing space away from politics and conflict in the country.
Yemen is a country rich in cultural diversity, and there is much historical evidence of this rich diversity. Despite the immense suffering of Yemeni society and the need for humanitarian aid for more than 80% of its population, art has emerged as a tool of resistance. Art has provided a means of healing from trauma, Artists in Yemen continue to produce art and cultural works, and their work continues to testify to their efforts to resist the situation and the restrictions imposed on them by various parties to the war and conflict.
In Ramadan before the Maghrib prayer (Azan) “I was standing On the roof looking at the view of the nationhood when took this photo.”
From a work series called “So far away, yet so close”, 2022
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[1] https://www.unicef.org/mena/yemen-crisis